Portage British Columbia Regional Board

A message from the Chair of Portage BC
March 2010

It was on a trip to Montréal in June 2007 that I ran into Peter Howlett, President of Portage and an old friend from my McGill days.  I was taken by his devotion to helping substance abusers free themselves from addiction and by his vision for how Portage could help the youth of British Columbia.

As a Board Member of the Vancouver Foundation, I am responsible for the “youth homelessness” portfolio.  What a better way to combat youth homelessness than to establish a long-term residential treatment centre for young people with substance abuse problems?

The Portage BC project was developed in conjunction with From Grief to Action, led by Robert and Susan Ruttan, and with Central City Foundation. We are now well into the first year of active programming at the site known as “The Crossing” in Keremeos, BC. Clients are referred to Portage from the Lower Mainland, the Interior, as well as other regions of BC and we are developing relationships to facilitate referral so that we can help as many young people as possible to take back control of their lives.

We have formed a Portage British Columbia Board of dedicated community members and we are ready take Portage to the next level in BC. I am confident that with the enthusiasm and support of our staff, our Board Members, and our valued partners, it is a task that we will achieve.

- John McLernon, Chair of Portage BC

Portage British Columbia Board Members

Dr. John Carsley
Dr. Allan Furlong
Dr. Richard Hooper, Vice-Chair
Heather Hooper
Peter Howlett, President of Portage
John. L. Leathley, Vice-Chair
Lulu Leathley
Dr. John MacFarlane
Marian MacFarlane
John McLernon, Chair
Peggy McLernon
Bob Ransford
Robert Ruttan
Susan Ruttan
Peter W. Webster